Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
84126656
PICTURE GESTURE AUTHENTICATION
[0000] This application is a divisional of Canadian National Phase Patent
Application No. 2,836,052
filed October 9, 2011.
BACKGROUND
100011 A computing device, such as a laptop, a desktop, a tablet computer, a
handheld device, or a
server, may contain sensitive data that a user does not want disseminated to
the general public.
Similarly, a service, such as an e-mail account, banking service, social
network, or remote work
computer access, may contain data that may be damaging in malicious hands.
Thus, a computing
device or service may use password protection to restrict access to only
authorized users who can
authenticate a right of access to a user session. A login interface may query
the user for a password
having a series of characters, such as letters, numbers, and signs. An
authentication service may deny
access to the user if the characters are an improper order, if the letters are
in the wrong case, or if the
password fails to match the stored password in any way.
[0002] The authentication service may give the user a set number of tries at
providing the password
before that user is blocked from further attempts to access the computing
device or service. The user
may then contact an administrator to access the service or computing device,
after providing some
proof of identification. Such proof of identification may be a government
identification or a pre-
registered set of questions that presumably only the user can answer.
Alternately, if the user fails to
provide the proper password, a computing device or service may erase any
important data.
[0003] An issue of password protection may be that a password that is complex
enough to provide a
proper level of protection may be too difficult for a user to remember. Most
users may often use easily
determined passwords like "Guest", a user's name, or other easily divinable
passwords. Users that use
a properly complex password may often forget the password, leading to a very
frustrating user
experience.
SUMMARY
[0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that is
further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to identify key
features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used to limit the
scope of the claimed subject matter.
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[0004a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a machine-
implemented method for authenticating a user session associated with a user,
comprising:
displaying a personalized digital image on a display screen; receiving a user
drawing set
superimposed on the personalized digital image, the user drawing set including
multiple
drawing set members, at least two of the multiple drawing set members
comprising: a user
touch point indicating a position associated with the personalized digital
image, a user circle
gesture indicating a first set of positions associated with the personalized
digital image, a user
freestyle form gesture indicating a second set of positions associated with
the personalized
digital image, or a user line gesture indicating a third set of positions
associated with the
personalized digital image; and authenticating access to the user session if
the position, the
first set of positions, the second set of positions, or the third set of
positions of the at least two
of the multiple drawing set members of the user drawing set matches a library
drawing set
associated with the user.
10004b1 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided one or
more computer-readable-media storage devices having a set of instructions
stored thereon
that, responsive to execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more
processors to
perform operations comprising: displaying a digital image on a display screen,
the digital
image associated with a user; receiving a user drawing set via superimposition
over the digital
image on the display screen, the user drawing set having multiple user
gestures, the multiple
user gestures including at least two of: a user touch point indicating a
position associated with
the digital image; a user circle gesture indicating a first set of positions
associated with the
digital image; a user line gesture indicating a second set of positions
associated with the
digital image; or a user freestyle form gesture indicating a third set of
positions associated
with the digital image; and authenticating access to a user session if at
least two of the
position, the first set of positions, the second set of positions, or the
third set of positions
associated with the multiple user gestures of the user drawing set match a
library drawing set
associated with the user.
[0004c] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a
picture signature password system, comprising: a display screen to display a
digital image
associated with a user; a user input device to receive a user drawing set
superimposed over the
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digital image associated with the user and displayed on the display screen,
the user drawing
set having at least two user gestures, two of the user gestures being: a touch
point indicating a
position associated with the digital image, a circle gesture indicating a
first set of positions
associated with the digital image, a line gesture indicating a second set of
positions associated
with the digital image, or a freestyle form gesture indicating a third set of
positions associated
with the digital image; and a processor to execute a set of instructions to
authenticate access to
a user session if positions associated with the digital image indicated
through the at least two
user gestures of the user drawing set match a library drawing set associated
with the user.
[0005] Embodiments discussed below relate to a picture signature
password system
may use a picture signature password to determine access to a computing device
or service. A
display screen may display a personalized digital image. A user input device
may receive a
user drawing set executed by a user over the personalized digital image. A
processor
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may authenticate access to the user session if the user drawing set matches a
library
drawing set associated with the user.
DRAWINGS
[0006] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other
advantages
5 and features can be obtained, a more particular description is set forth
and will be rendered
by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the
appended
drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
and are not
therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, implementations will
be described
and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the
accompanying
drawings.
100071 FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary computing device.
100081 FIG. 2 illustrates, in a block diagram, an authentication service.
100091 FIGS. 3a-b illustrate, in block diagrams, two picture signature
passwords.
100101 FIGS. 4a-d illustrate, in block diagrams, a library drawing set record.
100111 FIG. 5 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method of
administrative
preparation for an authentication service.
100121 FIG. 6 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method of
creating a library
drawing set.
100131 FIG. 7 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method of
executing an
authentication session.
100141 FIG. 8 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method for
matching a user
drawing set to a library drawing set on an individual member basis.
[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method for
matching a user
drawing set to a library drawing set on an aggregate basis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
100161 Embodiments are discussed in detail below. While specific
implementations are
discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes
only. A person
skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and
configurations may be
used without parting from the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure.
The implementations may be a machine-implemented method, a tangible machine-
readable medium having a set of instructions detailing a method stored thereon
for at least
one processor, or a picture signature password system for a computing device.
100171 A picture signature password system may increase the complexity of the
authentication process while improving usability by implementing a picture
signature
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password. A picture signature password combines a digital image with a series
of user
selected drawings performed over the digital image. The digital image may be
further
ingrained in the memory of the user by allowing the user to supply a
personalized digital
image from the user's own digital image library. Alternatively, the user may
select the
digital image from a library of default digital images provided with the
authentication
service. While a display with an integrated touch screen may increase the ease
of use by
allowing the user to directly apply the drawings with a finger, a user may
also apply more
traditional input methods such as a mouse, interactive stylus, or keyboard
cursor control.
Once authenticated, the user may use the service or computing device in a
"user session",
IO or period of authenticated use.
100181 A simple picture signature password may apply a series of "touch
points" to the
digital image. The word "touch point" refers to selection of a position on the
digital
image, whether through a touch on a touch screen or by clicking with a mouse
or other
input. A more complex picture signature password may incorporate a gesture,
combining
selection of a set of positions with a movement. A gesture may include a
simple shape,
such as a circle gesture or a straight line gesture, or even more complex
freestyle form
gestures. A drawing is either a touch point or a gesture. A gesture set may
have one or
more gestures, while a drawing set may have one or more gestures or touch
points.
Neither the gesture set nor the drawing set is a null set.
[00191 The picture signature password system may improve usability of a
picture
signature password by visual representing, or "tracing", the drawing set as
received over
top the digital image as the user enters the drawing set. Thus, the user may
check that the
drawing set is being received as intended. The picture signature password
system may
compare the drawing set entered by the user, or "user drawing set", against a
previously
entered drawing set stored on the system, or "library drawing set".
10020] In one embodiment, a picture signature password system may use a
picture
signature password to determine access to a computing device or service. A
display
screen may display a personalized digital image. A user input device may
receive a user
drawing set executed by a user over the personalized digital image. A
processor may
authenticate access to a user session if the user drawing set matches a
library drawing set
associated with the user.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary computing device 100
which
may act as a picture signature password system. The computing device 100 may
include a
bus 110, a processor 120, a memory 130, a read only memory (ROM) 140, a
storage
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device 150, a user input device 160, an output device 170, and a communication
interface
180. The bus 110 may permit communication among the components of the
computing
device 100.
[0022] The processor 120 may include at least one conventional processor or
microprocessor that interprets and executes a set of instructions. The memory
130 may be
a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that
stores
information and instructions for execution by the processor 120. The memory
130 may
also store temporary variables or other intermediate information used during
execution of
instructions by the processor 120. The ROM 140 may include a conventional ROM
device
or another type of static storage device that stores static information and
instructions for
the processor 120. The storage device 150 may include any type of tangible
machine-
readable medium, such as, for example, magnetic or optical recording media and
its
corresponding drive. The storage device 150 may store a set of instructions
detailing a
method that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more
processors to
perform the method. The storage device 150 may also be a database or a
database
interface for storing a picture signature password for the user.
[0023] The user input device 160 may include one or more conventional
mechanisms that
permit a user to input information to the computing device 100, such as a
keyboard, a
mouse 162, an interactive stylus 164, a touch screen 166, a direct motion
input device 168,
a voice recognition device, a microphone, a headset, etc. An interactive
stylus 164 is a
stylus, such as a laser pen, that interacts with a display screen allowing a
user to select or
input data. A touch screen 166 is a display that interacts with a finger of a
user to allow
the user to directly select or input data. A direct motion input 168 is a
camera or other
image or motion capture device that may read a motion made by a user. The
output device
170 may include one or more conventional mechanisms that output information to
the
user, including a display screen 172, a printer, one or more speakers, a
headset, or a
medium, such as a memory, or a magnetic or optical disk and a corresponding
disk drive.
The display screen 172 may have an integrated interactive touch screen 166,
allowing
users to select data representations on the display screen 172 by touching
them. The
communication interface 180 may include any transceiver-like mechanism that
enables
processing device 100 to communicate with other devices or networks. The
communication interface 180 may include a network interface or a mobile
transceiver
interface. The communication interface 180 may be a wireless, wired, or
optical interface.
In one embodiment, the communication interface 180 may include a universal
serial bus
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(USB) interface, a Bluetooth interface, or other such interface that may be
used to attach
peripheral devices or pair other computing devices.
10024] The computing device 100 may perform such functions in response to a
processor
120 executing sequences of instructions contained in a computer-readable
medium, such
as, for example, the memory 130, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. Such
instructions
may be read into the memory 130 from another computer-readable medium, such as
the
storage device 150, or from a separate device via the communication interface
180.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates, in a block diagram, an authentication service 200
run by a
picture signature password system. The first time that a user accesses a
computing device
or a service, the user may provide a set of authentication information. A file
manager user
process 210 may implement a picture password enrollment user experience (UX)
212 to
collect a text password, an image path, and a drawing set. The text password
is a standard
text password that the user selects to access a user session with a computing
device or a
service. The image path identifies a digital image selected by the user as a
prompt for the
picture password. The digital image may be selected from a library of default
digital
images and or may be a personalized digital image selected from a digital
image library
provided by the user. The drawing set is a unique series of one or more touch
points or
gestures performed over the digital image to uniquely identify the user.
100261 The picture password enrollment user experience 212 may send the text
password,
image path, and drawing set to a picture password enrollment local process 220
executing
a picture enrollment class 222. The picture enrollment class 222 may process
the drawing
set and digital image to create the picture signature password. The picture
enrollment
class 222 may send the picture signature password and the text password to a
system vault
230 which securely stores that data.
100271 The next time that a user seeks to authenticate a session, a login user
interface (UI)
local process 240 may execute a picture verification class 242 to receive the
authentication
information from the user. The picture verification class 242 may retrieve the
picture
signature password and the text password from the system vault 230. The
picture
verification class 242 may prompt the user to complete the picture signature
password by
presenting the digital image to the user. The user may enter a user drawing
set to be
applied to the digital image to create the picture signature password. If the
user fails to
properly complete the picture signature password, then the picture
verification class 242
may prompt the user for the text password.
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100281 A picture signature password system may implement the authentication
service
200. FIG 3a illustrates, in a block diagram, one embodiment of a first picture
signature
password 300. The picture signature password system may prompt the user with a
digital
image 310 to provide the picture signature password. The authentication
service may
display on a display screen 172 or a touch screen 166 a digital image 310. The
digital
image 310 may be a personalized digital image 310 to increase familiarity to
the user. The
user may input a drawing set via the touch screen 166, a direct motion input
168, a mouse
162, an interactive stylus 164, or other input device 160.
100291 The drawing set may be superimposed on the personalized digital image.
The
drawing set may include a series of one or more touch points 320 or gestures.
A touch
point 320 is a touch on a touch screen 166 or a cursor click from another
input device 160
at a point on the personalized digital image 310. A touch point 320 has
position but no
movement vector. Conversely, a gesture has a position and a movement vector. A
gesture
may be a line gesture 330, circle gesture 340, or freestyle form gesture.
10030] For example, as shown in FIG. 3a, a personalized digital image 310 may
show
three people. A user may apply touch points to one person on the shoulder,
hand, and
foot. The user may draw two line gestures 330 downward on the second person,
creating a
cross on the chest. The user may draw a circle gesture 340 on the head of the
third person
in a clockwise motion.
[0031] A second example of a picture signature password 350 is shown in FIG.
3b. The
personalized digital image 360, in the second example, may have a person next
to car
under a crescent moon. A user may draw a circle gesture 340 on the head of the
person in
a counterclockwise motion. The user may draw two upward line gestures 330 to
cross out
the crescent moon. The user may draw a freestyle form gesture 370 by tracing
the
underside of the car.
100321 A library drawing set is a drawing set stored with the picture
signature password
system after initial input by the user upon creating an account with a
computing device or
a service. Additionally, a user drawing set is a drawing set entered to access
a session
once an account has been created. The library drawing set may be stored in the
system
vault 230 as a library drawing set record.
100331 Whether a library drawing set or a user drawing set, each member of a
drawing set
may be identified by a set of position data. The position data set indicates
where the user
has touched or clicked. For a touch screen, the position data set may include
all points
touched by the finger of the user, or a representative point, such as the
center of the finger.
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[00341 Similarly, each gesture may be identified by a set of position data and
a set of
vector data. The vector data set indicates the direction the user moves that
touch or click.
For a touch point, the vector data set is empty, as no movement occurs.
[00351 Additionally, each member of a drawing set may be associated with a set
of timing
data. For a touch point, the set of timing data may indicate the duration of
entry of the
touch point. For a gesture, the set of timing data may indicate the speed of
entry of the
gesture.
100361 For specific drawing types, the picture signature password may use a
specific data
storage format to represent a library drawing set member. For example, a touch
point 320
may be represented by a touch point library drawing set record 400, as shown
in FIG. 4a.
Further, a gesture may be represented by a general library gesture set record
420, as shown
in FIG. 4b. Alternately, a line gesture 330 may be represented by a line
library gesture set
record 440, as shown in FIG. 4c. A circle gesture 340 may be represented by a
circle
library gesture set record 460, as shown in FIG. 4d.
100371 The library drawing set record may have a user identification (ID) 402
to identify
the user associated with the library drawing set. The library drawing set
record may have
a user setting identifier 404 allowing different picture signature passwords
or different
tolerances for different settings. The user setting describes the location of
the user, such as
a home location, a work location, or a public location. For example, the
picture signature
password system may have a user more strictly recreate the library drawing set
if the user
is accessing the system from a public location as opposed to a home location.
The library
drawing set record may have an image identifier 406 to identify the digital
image that acts
as a prompt for the user.
[0038] The library drawing set record may have a library drawing set member
(LDSM)
field 408 identifying a member of the library drawing set. The library drawing
set record
may have a type field 410 that identifies the library drawing set member 408
as a touch
= point 320, line gesture 330, circle gesture 340, or freestyle form
gesture 370.
[00391 A touch point library drawing set record 400 or a general library
gesture set record
420 may have a library position set (LPS) field 412 associated with the
graphic
SO coordinates of the library drawing set member. The library position set
field 412 may
indicate points at a pixel or sensor level. The library position set field 412
may have an
associated position tolerance (PT) field 414 representing a position tolerance
value. The
position tolerance value indicates how far the user position set associated
with a user
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drawing set may be from the library position set while still considered to
match the library
position set.
[0040] The library drawing set record may have a timing data set field 416
associated with
the speed of entry or duration of entry of the library drawing set member. For
a touch
point library drawing set record, the timing data set field 416 may indicate
the duration
that a touch point is held. For a general library drawing set record 420, the
timing data set
field 416 may indicate the speed that a gesture is entered. The timing data
set field 416
may also be used to indicate whether a first member of a drawing set is to be
entered
concurrent with a second member of the drawing set. For example, a user may
hold a
touch point 320 while entering a circle gesture 340.
100411 The general library gesture set record 420 may have a library vector
set (LVS)
field 422 associated with the direction of the library drawing set member. The
library
vector set field 422 may have an associated vector tolerance (VT) field 424
representing a
vector tolerance value. The vector tolerance value indicates how far the user
vector set
associated with a user drawing set may be from the library vector set while
still considered
to match the library vector set. The general library gesture set record 420
may be used to
indicate a touch point 320 by setting the library vector set field 422 to
zero.
[0042] For a line gesture 330, a line library gesture set record 440 may store
a start point
field 442 indicating the beginning of the line gesture 330 and an end point
field 444
indicating the end of the line gesture 330, with points in between implied.
The start point
field 442 may have an associated start point tolerance (SPT) field 446
representing a start
point tolerance value and the end point field 444 may have an associated end
point
tolerance (EPT) field 448 representing an end point tolerance value. The start
point
tolerance value and the end point tolerance value indicate how far the user
start point and
user end point associated with a user line gesture 330 may be from the library
line gesture
330 while still considered to match the library line gesture 330.
100431 For circle gestures 340, the circle library gesture set record 460 may
store a center
point field 462 indicating the center of the circle gesture 340. The center
point field 462
may have an associated center point tolerance (CPT) field 464 representing a
center point
tolerance value. The center point tolerance value indicates how far the user
center point
associated with a user circle gesture 340 may be from the library circle
gesture 340 while
still considered to match the library circle gesture 340. The circle library
gesture set record
460 may store a radius field 466 indicating the radius of the library circle
gesture 340. The
radius field 466 may have an associated radius tolerance (RT) field 468
representing a
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radius tolerance value. The radius tolerance value indicates how far the user
radius
associated with a user circle gesture 340 may be from the library circle
gesture 340 while
still considered to match the library circle gesture 340. The circle library
gesture set
record 460 may store a direction field (DIR) 470 indicating the direction that
the circle
gesture 340 is drawn, such as clockwise or counterclockwise.
[00441 FIG. 5 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method 500 of
administrative preparation for an authentication service. The picture
signature password
system may administratively set default parameters that the user may follow
when using
the authentication service 200. The picture signature password system may set
a
minimum library set size for a library drawing set associated with the user
(Block 502).
The minimum library set size indicates the minimum number of library drawing
set
members the user enters to create a viable picture signature password. For
example, a
service administrator may make the user enter at least three unique drawing
set members.
The picture signature password system may set a minimum complexity level for a
library
drawing set associated with the user (Block 504). The minimum complexity level
indicates the complexity of the library drawing set. Complexity may be
determined by
drawing repetition and individual drawing complexity, with a touch point 320
being the
simplest and the freestyle form gesture 370 being the most complex. For
example, the
service administrator may make the user enter a line gesture 330, a circle
gesture 340, and
a freestyle form gesture 370, with minimal repetition of drawing type. The
picture
signature password system may set a default position tolerance value to be
associated with
a library drawing set member (Block 506). The picture signature password
system may
set a default vector tolerance value to be associated with a library drawing
set member
(Block 508).
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method 600 of
creating a
library drawing set. The picture signature password system may receive a user
profile
from the user (Block 602). The user profile may indicate if a person is an
adult or a child.
The picture signature password system may receive a digital image from a
personalized
digital image library provided by the user (Block 604). The picture signature
password
system may receive an initial library drawing set input from the user (Block
606). The
picture signature password system may receive a confirmation library drawing
set input
from the user (Block 608). The user enters the confirmation library drawing
set input to
demonstrate the ability to enter a drawing set with some degree of
consistency. If the
confirmation library drawing set input does not match the initial library
drawing set input
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(Block 610), the picture signature password system may trace a training
library drawing
set to the user (Block 612). The training library drawing set is the initial
library drawing
set input visually represented, or "traced", over top the digital image. The
picture
signature password system may display a reentry request to the user after
tracing the
training library drawing set (Block 614).
[00461 If the confirmation library drawing set input matches the initial
library drawing set
input (Block 610), the picture signature password system may create a library
drawing set
from the initial library drawing set input (Block 616). The picture signature
password
system may associate a library drawing set member with a library position set
(Block 618).
The picture signature password system may associate a library drawing set
member with a
library vector set (Block 620). The picture signature password system may
adjust the
position tolerance value for the library position set and the vector tolerance
value for the
library vector set based on the user profile (Block 622). For example, a child
may be
given greater tolerance than an adult in recreating the drawing set as a user
drawing set.
[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method 700 of
executing an
authentication session. The picture signature password system may determine a
user
setting, such as determining if the user is accessing the authentication
service 200 from a
work location, public location, or home location (Block 702). The picture
signature
password system may adjust the position tolerance values and the vector
tolerance values
based on that user setting (Block 704). The picture signature password system
may
initialize a login attempt (LIA) counter to zero (Block 706). The picture
signature
password system may display a personalized digital image on a display screen
172 (Block
708). The picture signature password system may receive a user drawing set
executed by
a user over the personalized digital image (Block 710).
[0048] The user drawing set may include a user touch point, a user circle
gesture, a user
line gesture, or a user freestyle form gesture. To increase complexity, the
picture signature
password system may have the user drawing set have at least one user gesture.
The user
gesture may be a user circle gesture, a user line gesture, or a user freestyle
form gesture.
For even higher complexity, the picture signature password system may receive
a user
gesture set executed by a user over a digital image. The user gesture set may
include a
user circle gesture, a user line gesture, or a user freestyle form gesture.
100491 The picture signature password system may trace the user drawing set
onto the
personalized digital image, to illustrate to the user where the user is
drawing (Block 712).
If the user drawing set matches a library drawing set associated with the user
(Block 714),
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then the picture signature password system may authenticate access to the user
session
(Block 716). If the user drawing set does not match a library drawing set
associated with
the user (Block 714), the login attempt counter is incremented (Block 718). If
the login
attempt counter is less than the maximum number of allowed attempts (MAXA)
(Block
720), the picture signature password system may request reentry of the user
drawing set
(Block 722). If the login attempt counter exceeds the maximum number of
allowed
attempts (Block 720), the picture signature password system may request a text
password
(Block 724). If the text password matches the library text password associated
with the
user (Block 726), then the picture signature password system may authenticate
access to
the user session (Block 716). If the text password does not match the library
text
password associated with the user (Block 726), then the picture signature
password system
may deny access to the user session (Block 728).
[00501 FIG. 8 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method 800 for
matching a
user drawing set to a library drawing set on an individual member basis. The
picture
signature password system may initialize a member identifier (M) to zero and a
member
score (MSCORE) to zero (Block 802). The picture signature password system may
identify the drawing type that best matches a user drawing set member to
determine which
library drawing set member better compares to that user drawing set member
(Block 804).
The picture signature password system may associate the user drawing set
member with a
user position set (Block 806). The picture signature password system may
associate the
user drawing set member with a user vector set (Block 808). If the user
position set is not
within the position tolerance value of the library position set (Block 810) or
the user vector
set is not within the vector tolerance value of the library vector set (Block
812), and the
member identifier is less than the library set size (M SIZE) (Block 814), the
picture
signature password system increments the member identifier to the next user
drawing set
member (Block 816). If the member identifier is greater than or equal to the
library set
size (Block 814), the picture signature password system determines that no
match has
occurred (Block 818). If the user position set is within the position
tolerance value of the
library position set (Block 810) and the user vector set is within the vector
tolerance value
of the library vector set (Block 812), the picture signature password system
increments the
member score to indicate that the user drawing set member and the library
drawing set
member match (Block 820).
100511 If the member score equals a matching score (MS) (Block 822), the
picture
signature password system may determine the user drawing set and the library
drawing set
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match (Block 824). The matching score may not indicate that every member of a
user
drawing set matches, as the picture signature password system may determine
that the user
drawing set matches the library drawing with a majority of user drawing set
members
matching a majority of library drawing set members. Thus, for example, if a
user
accurately enters three out of four user drawing set members, the user may be
given
greater leeway on the fourth and final user drawing set member. The last user
drawing set
member may be ignored or have the tolerance values for that user drawing set
member
increased. The picture signature password system may measure the user accuracy
in using
the authentication service (Block 826). The picture signature password system
may adjust
the position tolerance value and the vector tolerance value based on the user
accuracy
(Block 828). Thus, if a user is consistently shown to be highly accurate when
entering the
user drawing set, the tolerance values for that user may be decreased over
time to improve
security.
100521 Alternately, a picture signature password system may calculate an
individual
comparison score for a user drawing set member based on proximity to the
library drawing
set member. The picture signature password system may aggregate the individual
comparison score for each user drawing set member into an aggregate comparison
score.
The aggregate comparison score represents the total deviation of the user
drawing set from
the library drawing set. If the aggregate comparison score exceeds a maximum
limit for
deviation, then the picture signature password system may determine that the
user drawing
set matches the library drawing set. Thus the picture signature password may
determine
that the user drawing set matches the library drawing set based on an
aggregate
comparison score for the entire user drawing set, rather than on an individual
user drawing
set member basis.
[00531 FIG. 9 illustrates, in a flowchart, one embodiment of a method 900 for
matching a
user drawing set to a library drawing set on an aggregate basis. The picture
signature
password system may initialize a member identifier, an individual comparison
score (ICS),
and an aggregate comparison score (ACS) to zero (Block 902). The picture
signature
password system may associate a user drawing set member with a user position
set (Block
904). The picture signature password system may associate a user drawing set
member
with a user vector set (Block 906). The picture signature password system may
calculate
an individual comparison score for the user drawing set member based on vector
and
position distance from the corresponding library drawing set member (Block
908). The
picture signature password system may add the individual comparison score to
the
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aggregate comparison score (Block 910). If the member identifier is smaller
than the
library set size (Block 912), the picture signature password system increments
the member
identifier to the next user drawing set member (Block 914). If the member
identifier is
greater than or equal to the library set size (Block 912), the aggregate
comparison score is
compared with a matching limit (ML) indicating the maximum allowable limit
between
the user drawing set and the library drawing set. If the aggregate comparison
score is
greater than or equal to the matching limit (Block 916), the picture signature
password
system may determine the user drawing set and the library drawing set do not
match
(Block 918). If the aggregate comparison score is less than the matching limit
(Block 916),
the picture signature password system may determine the user drawing set and
the library
drawing set match (Block 920).
[0054] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to
structural
features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject
matter in the
appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described above.
Rather, the specific features and acts described above arc disclosed as
example forms for
implementing the claims.
[00551 Embodiments within the scope of the present invention may also include
non-
transitory computer-readable storage media for carrying or having computer-
executable
instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such non-transitory computer-
readable
storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general
purpose or
special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-
transitory
computer-readable storage media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or
other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage
devices, or any
other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in
the form
of computer-executable instructions or data structures. Combinations of the
above should
also be included within the scope of the non-transitory computer-readable
storage media.
10056] Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments
where
tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked
(either by
hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a
communications
network.
[0057] Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and
data
which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special
purpose
processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.
Computer-
executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by
computers in
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stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules include
routines,
programs, objects, components, and data structures, etc. that perform
particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions,
associated
data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code
means for
executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of
such
executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of
corresponding
acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
100581 Although the above description may contain specific details, they
should not be
construed as limiting the claims in any way. Other configurations of the
described
embodiments are part of the scope of the disclosure. For example, the
principles of the
disclosure may be applied to each individual user where each user may
individually
deploy such a system. This enables each user to utilize the benefits of the
disclosure even
if any one of a large number of possible applications do not use the
functionality described
herein. Multiple instances of electronic devices each may process the content
in various
possible ways. Implementations are not necessarily in one system used by all
end users.
Accordingly, the appended claims and their legal equivalents should only
define the
invention, rather than any specific examples given.
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